Updated!

Bet Mummy Lim is dying to post, but the lack of a computer means she can't really do much atm hahaha

Today was funny. I was snoozzing in the living room and Mummy Lim was half awake in the bedroom (Shauna woke at 330am and partied till 430am lol). All of a sudden, Mummy Lim dashed out and said "Baobao is missing!". I jumped and told her to check the curtains (Shauna likes to play hide-in-the-curtains). Then, Xiaoyi's door opened and there was Shauna, laid out on the mattress with Tigger in her arms. She then flashed us her were-you-looking-for-me smile. Priceless :)

well for the most part, Lil Shauna is down with a nasty cough. Coughs day and night and sometimes even throwing up. *sigh* Pappy's fault; that silly cough virus passed on to her. 2009 has been a year of falling sick. Mummy Lim has been trying her best to accommodate the sick baby. So have I, but being on this night shift means my effort is very limited. *double sigh*
Today marks Lil Shauna's first day at school!Popo has even bought her a Barney schoolbag, so i hear. heehee We, the parents, will be observing from a safe distance at the school. Popo says we can;t get too close or Lil Shauna will wanna stick to Mummy Lim.

Speaking of that; Mummy Lim commented that Lil Shauna will let her brother carry (as oppossed to letting me carry her). Hmm.. my first reaction is: "Let your brother carry lah!" hahaha i dunno what her actual meaning is though. true, sometimes Shauna won't let me carry cos Mummy Lim is around. I mean, given a choice, Shauna will stick to Mummy Lim rather than me. Shauna seems to stick alot more to Mummy Lim. Good for me hurhurhur

I can't connect very well to a baby. Maybe i'll do better when she grows up some more and can actually start talking properly. For now, i'm already doing my best. Can't do much if I'm on nightshift of working on weekends.. Maybe a new job will do me good? pffft...

Happie New Year!

1st post of the year!
A short one bcos I am late for work. ;p
So anything exciting?
Yes... Lil Shauna fell sick, the computer crashed with my precious photos still in it on new year's eve and we slept thru' from year 2009 to 2010, with Daddy Lim & Lil Shauna taking turns to cough violently and disturb my sleep. What a great way to start a new year. -.o"
But it is OK, things will only get better. :)

So, Happie New Year!

P.S - Not many posts until the computer recovers. Apparently, the repairman is clearing his leave and the computer will take about 1 week to repair. Daddy Lim is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from gaming cold turkey. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

A New Look

Did you notice the difference? Hohoho.
I had been wanting to amend the distorted lily pie chart (that tracks Lil Shauna's age) for the longest time but had been either busy or lazy. ;p To satisfy my ego, I had also wanted to install a counter for the longest time, so as to find out if anybody reads our blog. So thank you to the 20 people who came by since the counter was up. You just satisfied my ego. :)

As for the pix, it was Daddy Lim's idea. I was shocked at the size of it. Lil Shauna looks half awake. But so long as I look Ok, can liao. Hohoho. Like I say, Lil Shauna will look good even in her most unglam photo. ;p

Thank you, Bb.

Mummy Lim

To Get a Maid - Soon or Later?

As I have mentioned in one of my earlier post, the maid issue will surface soon and I am so right. We are thinking about getting a maid again.

My bro's maid has left for about 2 months. She left soon after my bro left for business trip. Then, it was a nightmare to bring the kids out. At the end of the outings, the adults were more than often left feeling tired and frustrated. Each outing was lined with crying babies and multiple episodes of tantrum-throwing (both by the adults and kids!). It was just plain bad. I was so glad when my bro came back.

Then, Daddy Lim went on night shift and my mum has to help bring Lil Shauna home when I work late, which is pretty often. Then I came down with chicken pox and my mum has to help with my meals and Lil Shauna after sending the nieces to CC and rushed back after settling my dinner. It jiust made me realised that we are short of manpower.

I already foresee that it would be very tiring on the adults when the maid left. With both nieces enrolling into CC, I also guessed that my bro will not be employing another maid. I was also right that without a maid, my mum would suffer. She had to take on more and there was literally no rest for her. Now, she's even reluctant to take a holiday with us, worrying that my SIL cannot handle the kids. She cant leave Lil Shauna with me and go on holidays with my bro's family too. She is already starting to complain and I dun see the end of the tunnel.

All these happenings just convinced me that we need an additional pair of hands. Otherwise, we all cannot fall sick or attend to emergencies. If my bro is not getting a maid, then we will have to get one. Right now, we are so stretched, if any of the adults fall sick, we are bad. I also cant stop feeling guilty when I have to ask my mum to help babysit Lil Shauna (other tahn office hours) when I need to get my things done or get some rest. Opportunity cost, if I get the rest, my mum doesnt. Haiz.

We have always said that we will get a maid when no. 2 comes along, but no. 2 is nowhere in sight and we are all feeling the toll. So, it is a question of whether we should get a maid soon. But that would mean that we will be financially stretched. With the new, super thirsty Tiguan, we are just nice (financially) currently.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I think Daddy Lim and I will do an IQC project on this after he comes back from night shift. We will do a good decision matrix, a fish-bone analysis and draw before and after Pareto chart to see if there's really improvement with a maid. ;p My feel? I think we will get a maid soon, just a matter of how soon. We cannot wait for no. 2 liao. ;p Hopefully, we can all slow down a little with that additional help. In Daddy Lim's words, he has nothing but loads of $$ and if $$ can solve the problem, then it is not a problem. Strange, how come I am so broke and Daddy Lim is $$ loaded? Hmmm....

Mummy Lim

Christmas with Chicken Pox

Our Christmas was such a disappointment bcos of chicken pox. -_______-"

Bcos I can go to only very limited places (e.g. to the park downstairs), Lil Shauna spent most of her time watching TV.

When there's really nothing much to do, I even took out her old bathtub to let her play. She now showers standing up and no longer uses the bathtub but she still love her bathtub and can soak until her skin crumbled, entertaining herself by pouring water from container to container.

On Christmas morning, I suggested for Daddy Lim to bring us to West Coast Park for Mac breakfast and some running around in the park. We ended up having breakfast at Fong Seng Nasi Lemak. Daddy Lim wanted very much to eat there but ended up feeling disappointed. The side dishes were cold. We then made our way to WCP and Lil Shauna gets to dig some sand, climb and run around a little.

After WCP, we went grocery shopping and handed Lil Shauna to my mum at Centris. I bet Lil Shauna missed playing with the jiejies bcos she was very cooperative and wave "bye bye" without fussing when we left. I had asked to let her stay with my mum and hope that they could bring Lil Shauna out. It is bad to spend Christmas at home. Lil Shauna deserves more fun on Christmas Day!

We went home and Daddy Lim took his afternoon nap in preparation for work at night while I watch the Korean drama. I watched 9 episodes in one breathe. Nobody was around and I didnt speak to anyone for at least 5 hours. I felt as if I was back to the time before Lil Shauna comes along and realised that I missed those days where I just stayed at home during weekends and just whacked DVD after DVD. Ahhhh... Lil Shauna came home after a day out and was happie.

There was not much Christmasy mood this time. There was no Christmas party but we did receive some Christmas gifts, mainly for Lil Shauna. She is one lucky girl. At least 80% of the gifts are for her lor.

As for me, Daddy Lim bought me my Christmas gift on Sunday. Hohoho.

We went shopping at Orchard. I had wanted a Coach bag and asked Daddy Lim on his budget. My jaw dropped when he told me $3k! I was tempted to buy a LV bag instead but cannot make myself do it. $3k can do alot of things leh. So we ended up with this at $566.10.

Pappy, the remaining of the $3k can credit? Hohohoho, I am one happie mummy. I couldnt stop smiling after we got the bag.

Mummy Lim

Back in Action

My MC lasted until Christmas Day. I was told to come back to the yard clinic for follow-up. I was pretty torn. On one hand, I had wanted to come back to work. The 1 week at home further proves that I am not cut to be a full-time home maker (less the maid). Lil Shauna drives me crazy. Things are made worse when I am mostly confined to the house with her. Of course the situation gets much better when my mum is around lah.

And so, the doctor examined me and said that I am recovering (I know). I asked if I can come back to work on Monday. He said that the those fat lesions may still contain the chicken pox virus and I might still spread the virus to others (if those are broken). Otherwise, I am quite fine. Other than a more powerful gel to cure those fat lesions, I am given the OK to come back to work le. Hohoho. But, I am still advised to "siam" pregnant ladies, just in case.

So, this ends my torture with Lil Shauna. I am well, I can go roam the malls with Lil Shauna again! I can go shopping for my Coach bag! My belated Christmas prezzie. The only backset? I had tot about going to Mambo on coming Wednesday if I am given another week's of MC. Well, Mambo has to wait, until such the time that Daddy Lim and I can both take leave on some Thursday. In the meantime,I will go and master my Mambo moves "Oooohhhh..Square room.... I want nobody, nobody, but you.. clap, clap". Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Staying at Home

Staying at home is no fun. I actually envy Lil Shauna when Popo brings her out for walks. That heartless girl. She dun want me the moment Popo gets ready to bring her out. Once out of the door, she will even volunteer to close the gate (with me still in the house) and loudly + happily bid me "bye bye". When the lift comes, she will walk ahead of my mum into the lift. My mum said that she totally forgets about me and enjoys herself when she is outside. -________-" Win already lor. My baby is so "nice" and "cares so much" about me. Sob.

It is actually quite boring to stay at home. Maybe bcos Lil Shauna is here with me, I also felt guilty when my mum brings her out. I mean, what can they do outside but aimless roaming? And they can roam for an hour to 2 each time. I know that my mum brings her out to give me some rest. Aww... mummy is still the best. As compared to Lil Shauna, I think I got more heart. At least I show my appreciation to my mum.

Seriously, it feels really wonderful to have family around when one is sick. My mum has been showering me with love and care and concern in her ways since I was down with chicken pox. She has been helping me with the baby, cooking my meals, buying me herbal drinks, helping me to sweep and mop the floor, despite me telling her not to. She said that she cannot tahan how dirty and dusty our place is. Hohoho. I am so thankful for her.

To conclude, I cannot be a housewife. I cannot survive not talking to people the whole day. So, I must get Daddy Lim to employ me a maid before I become a housewife. I think I can talk to the maid. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Mummy Lim is Sick!

Yes, yes, Mummy Lim is sick. I am down with... chicken pox.

Strangely, I got it at 30 years old. -.o" I rem that I played rough with my bro when he was down with chicken pox and I turned out fine. I rem that I slept and shared food with my sis when she was down with chicken pox and I turned out fine too. There is nobody around me who got chicken pox, so who passed me the virus!!?? This time somemore. As a result, I have to miss D's wedding, Felicia's bday party and also Christmas! Boohoo!

I was feeling funny on Friday. I was plagued by never-felt-before tiredness. Then I felt stress and tension on my neck and I was down with fever-headache in the afternoon. I left office at 5.30pm and started developing a mild fever. The fever went away with Panadol. I suspect that I was down with chicken pox cos I saw a water-filled lump on my tummy and tot I burst one on my back and ear earlier in the day. But no new bumps appeared leh.

Fever came again in the night and I was well in the morning with the help of Mr Panadol. I decided to go to the Company's doctor and was confirmed as having chicken pox. Sianz... I was given 7 days MC and asked to return for follow-up. Strange hor. How to return with all the pox to see doctor leh? Or the doctor really expect me to recover in 7 days?

I read on the internet that adults (above 15 YO) get it worse than children. That is bcos the natural immunity to fight against the chicken pox virus is gone. There is also a higher chance to develop complications. I think the article is so right bcos I am so chicken pox filled. I have chicken pox everywhere and so many of them on my face. I think I look like somebody who had a bad acne breakout now. It makes me pity those people who constantly suffer from acne problem.

I was initially happie that I got a week's MC. Can sit around and watch my favourite Korean drama leh. But I was so wrong. I spent the 1st 2 days having fever on and off. Then, I get ugly spots all over me. I already start scratching but it is still bearable. I heard that the worse is coming. Sob!

Then Lil Shauna is home with me. -______-" My SIL hasnt gotten chicken pox too and we cannot afford to pass the virus to her. Lil Shauna has gotten one jab of chicken pox vaccination. Her lazy parents had been procrastinating and hasnt given her the booster jab. I had wanted to give her the jab this coming Saturday. Who knows I was down with chicken pox last Friday. Haiz. I just hope that she already has some immunity from the 1st jab to fight the virus. So Lil Shauna has to stay with me to prevent her from passing any virus to my SIL.

It is no fun at all to stay at home with a baby. I have been watching the most baby TV in my entire life. I can even sing the songs in the High5 show. -.o" I am so glad that my mum comes and help and bring Lil Shauna out for walks in the late morning and evening. Otherwise, we will all go crazy in this house.

Hmm.. I hope the chicken pox go away soon. I hope the crazy itchiness wun attack me. I hope Lil Shauna wun kena chicken pox. Plllleeeeeeaaasssseee..

Mummy Lim

CupCakes 2

I completed the cupcakes for D's wedding on Sat. This is the 1st time that I made so many cupcakes and were surprised that dressing them up is the easiest and fastest. Hohoho.

D had specially asked for chocolate cupcakes and yellow theme. So I improvised what I made the other time and came out with these.

Yellow wedding bands on white fondant. Got precious stones somemore!

Simple shimmery hearts on yellow fondant and...

A whole box of babies! I hope they get what I mean. Hehe. The babies were the most difficult to mould. We spent a long time thinking how to make each one different.

To bad I wasnt able to attend the wedding and have no idea how the cupcakes look like when they were put together. Will post them if I managed to get the pix. But I heard from J and D that the cupcakes were "selling" well. Finished before the banquet. Hohoho.

I also bake some cupcakes for Felicia's 2 YO bday party. The request came a little late and they had already ordered a cake so I only made some to add on to the decoration.

Due to the lack of time, I baked cupcakes with garden theme bcos I tried moulding all these figures before. I was actually quite pleased with the results.

So, still nobody who would exchange cupcakes for babysitting services? I had wanted to bake cupcakes for Christmas but cannot liao. The next time, I will bake for Torres' full-month bash, if Mummy C allows me. Hohoho.

Aside to J, with these cute cupcakes, I must be AN's favorite auntie. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

CupCakes

D has asked me to bake cupcakes for her solemnisation this coming Saturday. She had specially asked for chocolate cupcakes when the only ones that I have tried baking are vanilla with yogurts ones. Win lor. So I search the web for recipe and found an easy one. I tot about the design for a long time and tried them out. The results werent too satisfying.

The buttercream is still too messy. Unless, I applied a thick layer of buttercream, otherwise I am unable to cover the chocolate cupcake properly. Then again, it is an outdoor event and I still am unable to prevent the buttercream from melting. It is just very messy. The cupcakes were OK. The girls tested and agreed. Personally, I found the cake a little too dry and not sweet enuff.

Eventually, I substituted the base with fondant instead. Some of the girls came and helped with the fondant modeling last Sunday. Lil Shauna was with popo while I "played" with fondant. We managed to complete all the modeling. Hurray!

Today, I came back early to bake the cupcakes. My mum helped me with Lil Shauna. I dun really fancy baking chocolate cupcakes bcos is it so messy! The kitchen was in such a mess after I was done with the baking (with my sis' help). I had a hard time cleaning up.

The results?

I know they dun look fantastic now but they will look much prettier after they are dressed up tomorrow. :) And I was more generous with the sugar and milk this time. I think the cakes taste much better this time.

OK, all my hard work. Maybe this will be the start of my 2nd career? Hohoho. I think too much liao.

Mummy Lim